Huddersfield 12-31 Hull: Andy Last gets first win and pays tribute to COVID response

Andy Last picked up his first win as a Super League coach as Hull eased to a 31-12 win over Huddersfield.

The Giants weren’t at the races as the Airlie Birds ran in five first-half tries to all but end the game as a contest.

Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd, Josh Griffin, Jack Brown and Mahe Fonua all crossed for four-pointers, in their first game back following their enforced period out of action due to a coronavirus outbreak in the camp.

It was a far cry to their last performance, a 54-18 defeat by Salford, and they now move within two points of Catalans.

Last said: “The response to our last performance was absolutely outstanding.

“Pay a lot of credit to medical and physical team for the job that they have done over the period of isolation was absolutely superb.

“First 40 minutes was really pleased and the second half was all about resolve, and when we faced adversity, we showed character.

“It’s been really challenging. A bit of a whirlwind. The disappointment of not performing to our best against Salford, and then two days later the COVID situation.”

Ashton Golding’s try got Huddersfield, who have now lost four in a row, on the board by the break, but at 28-6 down the game was all but done.

They did register the only try of the second half through Jordan Turner, and even a yellow card for Fonua didn’t give the Giants enough of an advantage to mount a serious comeback.

Hull’s day was soured to what looked like a nasty ankle injury for Sneyd, with Last confirming after the game it’s likely to sideline the half-back for at least a couple of weeks.

Huddersfield: Golding, McGillvary, Cudjoe, J. Wardle, McIntosh, Russell, Holmes, English, O’Brien, Matagi, Edwards, Turner, Lawrence. Subs: Hewitt, Wood, Wilson, Gavet.

Hull FC: Shaul, Naulago, Tuimavave, Griffin, Faraimo, Kelly, Sneyd, Ellis, Johnstone, Fash, Lane, Ma’u, Cator. Subs: Houghton, Satae, Fonua, Brown.